Acetylene-gas generator.



PATENIED MAY23, 1905.

C. W. BECK. ACETYLENE' GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1900. V v

' 2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

CWiTNESSES I Q 'lNVENTOR 110.790.276 IPAEI'BNTED MAY23,1905. c.W.'BEGK.-

I AGBTYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION IILED NOV. 23, i900.v

'1 vwmv PWITNEssEs INVENTIOB 2 BHEETB-SBBET 2.

UNITED STATES Patented May 523, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. BECK, OF NEW YORK N. Y.,'ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TOELECTROLITE GAS LAMP COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 790,276, dated May 23,1905.

Application filed November 23, 1900.- Serial No. 37,550. I

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. 81201;, of New York, county of New York,and State of New York, have invented certain new and use- 5 fulImprovements in Acetylene-Generators,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in acetylene-generators, andrefers more specifically to improvements in that type of gen- IO eratorswherein pulverulent carbid is fed'in regulated quantities to a body ofwater, the rate of feed being automatically governed and determined bythe rate of consumption of the gas generated.

5 Among the salient objects of the invention are to provide a generatorwhich will successfully maintain a proper isolation of the gasgeneratingelements (except as they are brought together by intentional operationof 2 the feed mechanism) embodied in a construction so compactlyarranged that the device is well adapted for embodiment in a portablevehicle-lamp-as, for example, in the velocipede-lamp illustratedherewith; to pro- Vide in a construction of the character referred tomeans for preventing the access of liquid to the operative parts of thefeed mechanism under the jolting and jarring to which a lamp of thischaracter is subjected and to likewise 3 prevent to the greatestpossible extent the access of vapors to the carbid contained within thecarbid-receptacle; to provide a feed mechanism which in operation tendsto keep itself clean and free from becoming encrusted with residue; toprovide a feed mechanism so protected and inclosed as to its operativeparts as to render it extremely free from liability of clogging inoperation; to provide improved details in construction and arrangementen- 4 abling the several parts to be very compactly associated withoutdetracting from their efficiency of operation; to provide a constructionwherein the generating fluid is driven and held away from the feedmechanism by hydrostatic pressure, and in general to provideimprovements in the construction and arrangement of the generator of thecharacter referred to.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, and will be 5 readilyunderstood from the following description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an axial sectional view of agenerator embodying a preferred construction of 5 5 my invention. Fig. 2is a plan view of the diaphragm through which the carbid is fed andwhich serves as a guard to prevent splashing of liquid upwardly into thefeed mechanism. Fig. 3 is a plan View, on an enlarged scale, of thelocking, mechanism whereby the feed mechanism is locked in closedposition. i Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the reducing- Valve spring,showing the latter in side elevation. Fig. 5 is a view, similar to Fig.1, of a modified embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 6 is aperspective detail view of the feedplung'er and a portion of itsoperating-stem.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is therein shown as embodied ina portable ve- 7 hicle-lamp'; but it is to be understood that whilecertain features of the invention are particularly well adapted for agenerator of this type, yet many of the features (and, in fact, most ofthem) are equally well adapted for embodiment in other types ofgenerators.

In said drawings, 1 designates as a whole a lower liquid chamber orfont,2 an elevated carbid-hopper, and 3 a reduced connectingpassage unitingthe hopper and associated parts with the upper part of the font or liquid-reservoir, said reduced portion forming a chamber 4, within whichare arranged parts of the feed mechanism. The lower body 1 may be of anypreferred and suitable 0011- struction adapted to contain a suitablesupply of liquid into which the pulverulent carbid is dropped by thefeed mechanism, and likewise the upper member or hopper 2 may be of anysuitable form, provided with a con- 9 verging or hopper-shaped lower endwall 5, which directs the carbid to the feed-opening 6 in the bottomthereof. In the preferred construction shown herein the cylindriccontracted portion 3 is permanently attached to s the lower part of thecarbid-hopper concentrically with the feed-aperture thereof and isdetachably connected with the upper portion of the reservoir orgenerating-chamber conveniently by being provided with anexternally-threaded lower end portion 7, which is adapted to engage acorrespondingly-thread ed tubular portion 9 of a casting 8, forming theuppermost portion of said generatingchamber. Said casting 8,conveniently and as herein shown, is in the form of a cap secured at itsperiphery to the upper part of the member 1, as indicated at 10, andprovided at its center with a tubular extension 11, forming an openpassage from the upper part of the generating-chamber to the chamber 4,an annular depression being formed between the outer tubular extension 9and the inner tubular extension 11, within the lower angle of which isarranged a packing-ring 12, against which the lower end of the threaded'part 7 impinges to form a gas-tight joint. Upon the lower side of thecap member 8, concentrically with the central passage therethrough, ismounted a depending tubular guard 13, which extends at its lower endwell down within the body of the reservoir, so that its lower end willbe at all times below the liquid-level therein.

14 designates as a whole a hollow feed-plunger arranged to reciprocatevertically through the aperture 6 of the hopper, said plungerconsisting, as best shown in Fig. 6, of a hollow cylindric or tube-likebody open at both ends and united at its upper end. with anoperating-stem by means of a pair of arms 15 so constructed and arrangedas to interfere as little as possible with the entrance of carbid to theupper end of the plunger.

16 designates a cylindrie housing or sleeve connected at its upper endwith the top wall 17 of the hopper or with other suitable support andarranged to depend thence downwardly, so as to inclose the feed-stem andupper end portion of the feed-plunger when the latter is in elevatedposition, said housing 16 being made of an internal diameter somewhatgreater than the external diameter of the feed-plunger, so as to afforda free working annular space 18 between said parts and terminating atits lower end at a sufiicient distance above the lower end of the hopperor feed-aperture to permit the pulverulent earbid to flow freelydownwardly past said lower end and through the feed-maerture when theplunger is in lowered position, so as to permit such feeding operation.The feed-plunger 1 1 is arranged to work through a yielding diaphragm orgasket member 19, consisting of a soft-rubber ring having its innermargin, which rubs against the exterior of the feed-plunger, maderelatively thin or brought to a blunt knife-edge, so as to create aslittle frictional resistance as practicable, and mounted within acup-shaped casing 20 upon the lower end of the carbid-hopper, In orderthat the ring may be compressed, so as to reduce the diameter of itsopening from time to time as it is worn away by the plunger, the casing20 is provided with a lower end cap-ring 21, threaded thereon and havinga portion 22, which underlies the lower surface of the ring and isadapted to compress the latter within its housing as the ring is screwedfarther upon the housing.

The feed-plunger is operated through the medium of an expansible andcollapsible gasholder, (designated as a whole 23 and located in theupper part of the hopper member above the partition 17 therein.)Conveniently and as shown herein said gas-holder comprises an innerrigid ring 24, mounted upon and seen red to the partition 17, andacollapsible inverted cupshaped sheet-rubber member 25, having itslowermargin seen red to the exterior of the ring 24: by means of anouterclamping-ring26, such a construction enabling the upper side of thegas holder or bag to descend or to collapse until it rests in contactwith the bottom wall of the holder formed by the partition 17. Upon theupper side of the gash lder is mounted a fiat disk or rigid member 27,(forming in the present instance the bottom wall of a reducing-valve,)and with the center of this rigid disk 27 is connected the upper end ofthe stem of the feed-plunger. This connection is conveniently formed bymeans of a nut 28, externally threaded to engage a correspondinglythreaded aperture in the lower side of the reducingvalve and providedwith a radial flange 29, which serves to clamp the margins of theaperture in the rubber bag, through which said nut is inserted againstthe superposed disk, so as to form a gas-tight union, said nut beingprovided with a central aperture threaded to receive the upper end ofthe feed-plunger stem, as indicated at 30.

The gas-holder is deflated and the connected feed-plunger caused todescend into feeding position by the action of a spring thereon, saidspring consisting in the present instance of acoiled contractilespring31, mounted upon the plunger-stem and having its upper endsuitably connected with a nut or ring 32 upon the upper end of said stemand having its lower end connected with a relatively lixed collar 33,mounted in the lower end of the tubular housing 16 and held againstupward movement therein by means of a ledge or Ilange 34 upon the innerwall of the housing, with which a radially-extending portion or flange35 of said collar engages.

The length of the feed-plunger and its relation to the gas-holder withwhich it is connected are such that as the upper side of the gas-holderapproaches the lower limit of its movement-1i. 0., when it is nearlydeflated the upper end of the hollow feed-plunger is brought below thelower end of the tubular housing 16 and the carbid flows from the hopbymeans of a suitable clam ping screw 37 and provided inside of itsmargins with a plurality of intersecting cuts or slits 38 (two in thepresent instance) arranged at right angles to each other and formingfour flaps or points 39, which owing to natural resiliency of the rubbernormally stand in thesame plane witheach other, and therefore'form aclosed diaphragm separating the generating-chamber above. This diaphragmis so located with reference to the lower end of the feed-plunger thatas the latter approaches its lower limit and reaches a lower point,where the carbid begins to flow into the stem, it engages the rubberdiaphragm and forces the flaps 39 downwardly, thereby opening a passagethrough the diaphragm and permitting the carbid to flow freely into thereservoir. The generation of gas from the pulverulent carbid is almostinstantaneous, and the production of gas immediately reinflates thegas-holder, thus withdrawing the feed-plunger, and as the feedplungerrises the resiliency of the rubber diaphragm causes the flap portionsthereof to close, so that the opening through this diaphragm isonlymomentary and only at such times as carbid is actually descending fromthe feed-plunger, so that there is practically no opportunity whateverfor the water to splash up into the feed mechanism.

In order to provide passage for the gas generated from thegenerating-chamber, a plu rality of apertures 40 are formed through thecap member 8 at points outside of the tubular extension 11, so that thegas may escape without opening the diaphragm. From the cham- "ber 4 thegas is carried up through the hopperand conveniently, by means of a tube41. extending through the bottom wall of the hopper into said chamber 4,rising at its upper. end to a point near the upper wall of the hopper.Within the upper part of the hopper the gas is brought into contact orintimate relation with the extended body of carbid therein and is thusvery effectually dried controlled passage 44, which communicates withthe reducingvalve,(designated as a whole 45.) Describing said reducing-valve in detail,

its lower disk-shaped bottom wall 27,,hereinbefore referred to, isprovided with a marginal upstanding rim 46, forming the side walls ofthe valve, and to the top margin of this upstanding rim is secured aconvex top wall 47 provided at its center with a stem 48, which extendsout through an unthreadecl opening in the top casing 2 of the generator.Be tween the periphery of the top wall 47 and the upper margin of theside wall46 of the valve is secured a flexible diaphragm 49, forming ahermetical partition between that part of the valve-chamber below saiddiaphragm and the portion above. With the central portion of thisdiaphragm 49 is connected "a rigid body or disk 50, with which isconnected a valvestem 51, extending downwardly through the lowervalve-chamber and provided at its lower end with a valve-plug 52, whichcontrols the passage 44 between the hollow valve-stem and thevalve-chamber.

53 designates a relatively long plate-spring having its inner endarranged to rest upon the upper side of the valve-diaphragm, so as toexerta downward tension thereon, which tends to open the valve-passageleading thereto and extending outwardly through the inclined top wall ofthe valve-chamber and connected with an adjusting block or support 54 ofpeculiar construction, as best indicated in Fig.4. As shown in Fig. 4,the spring 53 is provided with an arm portion 55, extendingsubstantially at right angles to the main body of the spring andconnected with the latter by means of a coil or turn 56, which serves asan eye, whereby the spring is pivotally connected with the support54 andaffordsadditional resiliency in the spring-body as a whole. The armportion 55 is engaged with an adjustingscrew 57, threaded into thesupport 54 at right angles to the arm, so that by turning said screwinwardly or outwardly it will act upon the spring bell-crank fashion tovary the tension upon the valve-diaphragm. The reducing-valve isprovided at one side with a suitable nipple 58, communicating with thespace 9 sisting of an ordinary conical or bell shaped chamber providedat its rear end with a suitable reflector 63 and closed at its outerflaring end by means of a suitable lens 64, said headlight as a wholebeing conveniently supportedfrom the main generator by means of abracket 65, attached to the waist portion 3 thereof, as indicated at 66.The bracket is provided with a gas-passage 67, with one end of which thelower end of the pipe 60 communicates and with the opposite end of whichcommunicates a nozzle 68, extending upwardly within theheadlight-chamber and provided with a suitable burner-tip 69. The upperside of the headlight is provided with a suitable hood or chimney 7 O,which may be of any desired construction.

In order that the feed mechanism may be locked in closed position, so asto prevent the access of carbid to the generating-chamber and at thesame time relieve the gas-holder from the tension of the spring thereon,the stem 18 of the reducing-valve is arranged to extend freely throughthe top of the casing, but is threaded and provided with a lock-nut 71,which may be adjusted downwardly thereon, so as to rest upon the topwall of the up per side of the casing and hold the reducingvalve andconnected feed-plunger in their uppermost positions. In order that thisadjusting-nut may remain in whatever position of adjustment it is placedupon said threaded stem, the latter is provided at one side with aflattened portion 72, (see Fig. 3,) extending through its length, andacross the upper side of the lock-nut is extended a flat spring 7 3,which engages said flattened portion yieldingly and serves to hold thenut from rotation unless moved positively by the fingers, althoughpermitting it to beturncd for adjustment.

The general operation of the generator constructed as herein describedhas been sufliciently set forth in connection with the description ofthe mechanism to be clearly understood. It is to be noted, however, thatthe peculiar manner in which the carbid is controlled and fed from thehopper is not only novel, but a feature of much importance. As theplunger descends, so as to bring its upper end below the end of thehousing or sleeve 16, the carbid begins to pour in over the upper edgeof the plunger and fall downwardly through the same, and this operationwill continue as the plunger descends until sufficient carbid has beendropped through the yielding diaphragm, which at the time the carbid ispouring into the plunger will be forced open, to generate a volume ofgas and reinfiate the gas-holder, thereby raising the plunger andinterrupting the feed. While it is true that thehollow plunger forms nocheck to prevent the flow of gas (which will obviously be more or lessmoist) upwardly through the plunger, yet this gas will not reach thebody of carbid within the hopper except through the very narrow annularspace between the exterior of the plunger and interior of thesurrounding sleeve and through the gas-ports 42 above the upper surfaceof the carbid. As to that portion of the gas which reaches the carbidthrough the annular space surrounding the plunger, the amount of carbidthus exposed is insignificant, and, furthermore, whatever carbid is thusacted upon will be the very first carbid to be dropped in the nextsucceeding feeding operation, so that there is no possibility of anyconsiderable body of carbid becoming slaked, so as to prevent its freefeeding. Moreover, whatever particles of carbid adhere to the exteriorof the plunger by reason of this slight slaking action within thisannular space will be immediately rubbed off by the frictionalengagement of the rubber ring 19 as the plunger descends, so that thefeed mechanism will be kept entirely free, and to all practical intentsthe gas will be excluded from the hopper, except as it is admitted tothe upper part of the hopper intentionally and for the purpose of dryingit before it is admitted to the gas-holder. It is to be further notedthat the engagement of the upper end of the plunger with the fixed ringor nut 33 serves to positively arrest the upward movement of the plungerbefore the latter rises far enough to carry its lower end above therubber diaphragm-ring 19. By reason of the peculiar construction of thehollow plunger it will be seen that a relatively large and freefeed-opening is provided for the escape of the carbid when the plungeris lowered, notwithstanding the operative parts of said feed mechanismare relatively small, and this is a feature of the utmost importance ina generator of this character, for the reason that it is extremelydifficult to secure uniform feeding of pulverulent carbid unless suchfree escape be provided.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified embodiment of my invention in whichthe principal parts of the generator are constructed and arranged likethat shown in Figs. 1 to 4. In the present instance, however, thegenerator is so constructed that the pressure of gas supplied to theburner is due to the combined effect of a spring acting upon thegas-holder in the same manner as in the former instance and thehydrostatic pressure of a column of liquid communicating with thereservoir. In

the present instance also I. have dispensed with the guarding-diaphragm,which serves to prevent the splashing of the liquid upwardly into thefeed mechanism in the previously-describcd device, and have provided amodified construction of parts which cooperate with the gas-pressure toprevent the rise of the liquid to a point where it would be apt to reachthe feed mechanism.

Referring to said Fig. 5, like referencefigures are applied to thoseparts which are constructed substantially identical with those of thefirst-described generator, the modified features being, however,di'li'erently designated. 1 designates as a whole the lower receptacle,constituting the reservoir, which is provided at its upper side with acontracted tubular or cylindric extension 7, within' screws 78, and thelower end of the contracted a point substantiallycoincidentwith theheight Y or waist portion 3 of the generator is threaded to fit withinsaid member 7 4 and to impinge at its lower edge, against thepacking-ring7 7 to form a gas-tight unions The internal side of theflange portion 76 is screw-threaded, and within this is seated aring-shaped casting 7 9,

having a flaring or bell-shaped upper end80' of somewhat greaterdiameter than thefeedplunger 14:, so as to receive the carbiddischargedby the latter and direct it all downwardly through said ring or guide.Upon the lower portion of the member 7 9..is supported a dependingtubular extension 81, ar-

ranged concentric with the opening through the ring and having its loweropen end arranged to terminate a considerable distance below the normallevel of liquid within the reservoir. 82 designates a stand pipe.arranged to communicate with the lower portion of the reservoir andrising at lts upper end to of the generator, this stand-pipe being con-.veniently supported in suitable upright position by being provided witha bent portion 83,

which extends through a supporting-nut .84,

seated in the side wall of the-generator at such point as to cause thebent portion of the standpipe to intersect the sidewall of the generatorsubstantially at right angles. of the stand-pipe is desirably made aboutfore generation of gas has commenced and the liquld withm reservolr andstand-pipe remains at the same level the liquid willnot rise above themouth of the funnel or guide-ring 79.

The upperend of the stand-pipe82 is closed by a suitable screw-plug. 85,through which is formed a vent 86, controlled by an upwardlyclosingvalve 87, and within the stand-pipe is arranged-afloat 88, which isadapted to rise into engagement with said valveandclosingvent, so as toprevent the escape of liquid when the internal gas-pressure rises abovethe pressure exerted by the hydrostatic head due to the difierence inheight of the stand-pipe and reservoir.

The operation of this gener: ator is substantially the same asthatpreviously described, except that inthe present generator the pressureofgasgenerated serves not only to inflate the gas-l1older against the Thering broader claims on this feature.

The. capacity tension of the spring acting thereon, but also' serves todepress the level of the liquid within the tubular extension 81 andforces the liquid ,upwardly within the stand-pipe, thereby keeping thelevel of theliquid within the tubular extension normally at a point nearits lower v through the funnelshaped guide-ring 79 obviously serves tofurther prevent the liquid from splashing inwardly into or against thefeed mechanism, so that I am enabledto dispense with the yieldingdiaphragm shown in the form of construction. Whenever the gas-pressurewithin the generatorrises high enough, the fioat 88 engages and closesthe valve in the upper end of the stand-pipe, and thereafter the liquidbeing prevented from yielding further under the gas-pressure the entirepressure will be transmitted to the expansible gas-holder an d th espring control- .ling the latter.

While I have herein throughoutthe de-' scription referred to that memberwhich controls the flow of carbid from the hopper to thegenerating-chamber as a feed-plunger, it

,will be obvious that it constitutes, in effect,

a valve member and is thus referred to in the It will be ob- .vious thatthis feature of the invention in particular is capable of wideapplication and is not in any sense limited to a generator of theportable type or of the type herein set forth;

but, on the contrary, it is capable of adaptation to any generator"wherein pulverulent carbid is fed to a saturating-chamber. Likewise thatfeature of the invention comprising the stand-pipe, whereby hydrostaticpressure is caused to act in. conjunction with spring tension againstthe pressure of the gas generated, is also capable of differentadaptations. I do not, therefore, wish to be limited .to the details ofconstruction set forth herein, except asthe same are made the subject ofspecific claims.

. I claim as myinventioni 1. In a carbid-feed acetylene-generator, thecombination with a generating-chamber provided with an inlet-passagethrough which pulverulent carbid is fed intermittently, of adiaphragm-like screen extending across said inlet-passage, providedwith'a normally closed yieldable opening, and means for positivelyforcing said passage open during the admission of carbid.

2. In a carbid-feed acetylene-generator, the combination with agenerating-chamber provided with an.inletpassage through whichpulverulent carbid is fed intermittently, of a resilient screenextending across said inletpassage, provided with a slit-like opening,and means for positively. opening the aperture through said screenduring the admission .of carbid to. the generating-chambeig comprising arigid member cooperating with the feed force the opening of said screenopen during determined intervals, substantially as described.

4. In an acetylene-generator, the combination with a generating-chamber,of a sheetrubber diaphragm, provided with a normally closed openingformed by intersecting slits or cuts, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a carbid-feed acetylene-generator, the combination with a lowergenerating-chamber, an elevated carbid-hopper provided with adischarge-passage leading to the generatingchamber, of a hollowopen-ended feed-plunger working through said discharge-passage tocontrol the flow of carbid therethrough, the carbid flowing through thehollow plunger when said plunger is depressed, and a diaphragm-likescreen provided with a slit-like normally closed aperture extendingacross the passage between the hopper and generatingchamber below saidhollow feed-plunger, and adapted to be opened by the latter when inlowered position, whereby the carbid will flow from the hopper to thegenerating-chamber through the hollow plunger, substantially asdescribed.

6. In an acetylene-generator, the combination with lower and upperreceptacles, and a contracted or waist member uniting said upper andlower members, of means for detacha-bly uniting said members, comprisinga casting, as 8, forming the top portion of said lower member, andprovided with the inner and outer tubular or cylindric portions, 9 and11, the former having screw-threaded engagement with the lower end ofthe contracted portion uniting said upper and lower members, and thepacking-ring, 12, arranged within the annular depression of saidcasting, substantially as described.

7. In an acetylene-generator, the combination with lower and upperreceptacles, and a contracted or waist member uniting said upper andlower members, of means for detachably uniting said members, comprisinga casting, as 8, forming the top portion of said lower member, andprovided with the inner and outer tubular or cylindric portions, 9 and11, the former having screw-threaded engagement with the lower end ofthe contracted portion uniting said upper and lower members, and thepacking-ring, 12, arranged within the annular depression of saidcasting, and the elastic screen, 36, extending across the tubularmember,ll,substantially as described.

8. In an acetylene-generator, the combination with a lowersaturatirig-chamber, acarbid-hopper supported above saidsaturatingchamber and automatically-operating feed mechanism controllingthe passage between the carbid-hopper and the saturating-chamber, of apartition extending across the upper portion of said hopper, anexpansible and collapsible gas-holder arranged above and in part formedby said partition, a tubular housing supported from the lower side ofsaid partition and extending downwardly within the hopper, anoperating-stem connected with the valve member of the feed mechanism andextending up through said tubular housing and through said gas-holder, areducing-valve mounted upon the upper side of said gas-hold er andoperatively connected with the upper end of said operating-stem, and acoiled spring arranged concentrically with the operating-stem and actingto deflate the gas-holder, a locking-stem connected with the upper sideol said reducing-valve and sliding freely through the top wall of thegenerator, and a locking-nut upon said locking stem, substantially asdescribed.

9. In an acetylcue-generator, the combination with a generating-chambeadapted to contain liquid within which the carbid is plunged, of astand-pipe communicating with the liquid-space of said generator andarranged to extend to a height considerably above the top of thegenerating-ehamber, the capacity of said stand-pipe being less than thecapacity of the space within the generator above the normal liquid-leveltherein, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In an acetylene-generator, the combination with a generating chamberadapted to contain liquid, of a stand-pipe communicating with theliquid-space of said generating-chamber, provided in its upper portionwith a vent, a valve arranged to control said vent, and a float withinthe stand-pipe adapted to close said valve when the liquid-level risesabove a predetermined point, substantially as described.

11. In an acetylene-gencrator, the combination with a generating-chamberadapted to contain liquid, and provided in its upper portion with atubular housing forming a well extending downwardly from thecarbid-inlet at the upper side of the generator, and having its lowerend sealed by the liquid within the generating-chainber, of a stand-pipecommunicating with the liquid-space of said generating-chamber, andrising to a substantial height above the generating-chamber whereby thehydrostatic pressure of the liquid within the stand-pipe operatesagainst the gaspressure generated within said well, substantially asdescribed.

12. In an acetylone-generator, the combination with a lower font orliquid-reservoir constituting a generating-chainber, a hopper supportedabove said generating-chamber and-an expansible gas-holder in the upperpart of the lower part of said generating-chamber and rising alongsideof the generator to a height substantially above the generatingchamber,a vent in the upper part of said stand-pipe, a float-operated valvecontrolling said vent, and a spring arranged to act-upon the gas-holderto deflate the same, combined and operating substantially as set forthand whereby the combined hydrostatic pressure and spring tension'operateagainst the pressure of gas.

13. In a carbid-feed acetylene-generator,

the combination with a generating-chamber provlded With an inlet-passagethrough which carbid is fed, of a diaphragm-like screen extending acrosssaid inlet-passagesaid diaphragm normally preventing the passage of thecarbid and means for flexing said diaphragm to permit the passagetherethrough of the carbid.

14. Ina carbid-feed acetylene-generator, the combination with agenerating-chamber provided with an inlet-passage, a diaphragm.

like screen extending across said inlet-passage and prov1ded with anormally closed yieldable opening, a tubular feed-valvecooperating withone end of said tubular feedvalve to prevent the passage of carbidtherethrough, agenerating-chamber provided with an inlet-passage, adiaphragm-like screen arranged. across saidinlet-passage and providedWith a normally closed yieldable opening,

said screen being adapted to be openedby the tubular feed-plunger-duringthe feeding of carbid. v

17. A gas-generator comprising, a carbidholder provided with afeed-passage, a tubular valve workingthrough said feed-passage, meanscooperating With said valve to control the flow of carbid th'erethrough,a generating-chamber provided with an inlet through which carbid is fed,a diaphragm-like screen extending across said passage said diaphragmnormally preventing the passage of the carbid and adapted to be flexedby the tubular feed-valve during the feeding of carbid.

18. In acarbid-feed acetylene-generator the combination With agenerating-chamber provided with an inlet-passage through which carbidis fed, a diaphragm-like screen extending across said passage andprovided with a normally closed yieldable opening, and means forpositively forcing said passage open during the admission of carbid, anda depending flange within the generating-chamber and extending below thenormal Water-level therein and forming a protected Water-compartmenthaving an open bottom into which the carbid flows through the yieldablediaphragm.

19. A gas-generator, comprising a generating-chamber provided with aninlet through which carbid may be fed, a screen across said opening andnormally preventing the upward passage of liquid from thegenerating-chamber, means for opening said screen during the feeding ofcarbid, and a depending part extending below the normal level of thewater in the generating-chamber, and forming a protectedwater-compartment into which the carbid flows.

20. A gas-generator comprising, a carbidholder provided with adischarge-aperture, a valve controlling said aperture, an expansible andcollapsible gas-holder, means connecting the feed-valve to the movablewall of said holder, a generating-chamber formed with a carbid-inlet, ascreen formed of a plurality of parts normally closing said inlet andar- ITO holder provided with a discharge-aperture, a

plunger-valve Working in said aperture and controlling the flow ofcarbid, means operated by gas-pressure for operating said valve, agenerating-chamber having a carbid-inlet, a yieldable screen formed of aplurality of parts normally closing said inlet and arranged to be openedby the plunger when the carbiddischarge aperture is opened.

CHARLES W. BECK.

Vitnesses: 1

C. J. KINTNER, W. WV. HARRIS.

